Copy of The Science - Updated

A GUIDE ON SLEEP AND ON HOW DENSITY CAN HELP SLEEP BETTER

68% of Americans have trouble falling asleep at least once per week. In 2013, the average American slept 6.8 hours per night (1).

The sleep problem is cross-generational and poses many health risks given the vital role of sleep. But why is it so important and so restorative for our bodies and minds?

Aside the use of medication to treat sleep disorders, doctors are now turning to a natural science-based approach. They recommend patients to use a weighted blanket to help them sleep soundly through the night.

The purpose of this guide is to explain the science of sleep and how Density can help you sleep better, faster, longer and wake up more energised.

I - The Purpose of Sleep

Sleep serves multiple purposes that are essential to your brain and body.

1. Brain restoration. Your brain generates metabolic waste while functioning that needs to be eliminated to maintain good performances. The accumulation of waste products has been linked to neurological disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's disease). Recent research (2) suggests that sleep enables to clear this waste 2-fold faster (3) than when we are awake. The result? Your brain is restored during sleep, and you wake up refreshed and with a clear mind.

2. Memory consolidation.Sleep is vital in the process that maintains and strengthens long-term memories (a.k.a.memory consolidation (4)). Restless sleep can be harmful to consolidate both concrete memories (facts and figures) and emotional memories.

3. Metabolic health (obesity, diabetes and heart diseases).Studies (5) have shown that sleeping less than 6 hours per night reduces our ability to burn fats. This can lead to fat gain and muscle loss. Moreover, bad sleep can increase your risk of diabetes and heart disease (6).

Restful sleep is vital for your mental and physical health. Before explaining the benefits of Density weighted blanket, let's describe the symptoms and origins of sleep disorders.

III - The Origins of Sleep Disorders

External factors can have negative effects on our sleep. This includes the following :

Stress from work or school

Relationship problems

Anxiety...

Besides these external factors, internal changes in our bodies also affect how we sleep. These changes become more pronounced later in life. As a result, sleep problems and disorders are more frequent as we grow older. Moreover, a wide range of conditions can lead to sleep disorders. These include:

IV - How Sleep Works ?

Sleep is a series of phases repeated through the night:

Light sleep

Deep sleep

Periods of REM

Slow wave sleep helps you recover physically while REM sleep helps you recover mentally. When you face sleep disorders and when you age, the amount of time spent in these phases tends to decrease, which means the quality of your sleep and your mind and body's ability to recover also decrease.

V - How To Improve Your Sleep With Density ?

To sleep better and boost your perfomances and get the most out of the days, there are 3 levers you can activate :

Timing - How you need to fall asleep. The longer it takes, the more anxious you become which reduces your ability to relax

Intensity - How well you sleep. This is linked to the amount of time you spend in the light and REM cycles

Duration - How long you sleep. It is the amount of time you spend sleeping

Weighted blankets have been used for a long time in hospitals to help patients sleeping better and recovering faster. Researches have explored how weighted blankets can help you sleep...And the findings are amazing.

What is a weighted blanket ?

A weighted blanket – also known as Density blanket – is filled with light weight beads, that applies a gentle and evenly distributed pressure to your body, like a giant hug!

The soothing sensory feeling created by Density pressure leads to the releases of serotonin in the body. The hormone serotonin is a natural calming chemical with no side effect than help you sleep faster, better and longer.

How Density blankets Improve Your Sleep Timing?

Density harnesses thenatural and proven power of Deep Pressure Touch Stimulation to help you fall asleep faster. Your cortisol level goes down and your body increase the serotonin production. Your heart rate and blood pressure slowly goes down and you feel instantly relaxed.

One study reveals that "63% reported lower anxiety after use, and 78% preferred the weighted blanket as a calming modality". It also says: "the results reveal that the use of the weighted blanket, in the lying down position, is safe (6).

With Density, you will no longer get anxious when going to bed and will fall asleep 2.3 times faster.

How Density Blanket Improve Your Sleep Intensity?

With its gentle pressure, Density immediately creates an increased relaxation throught the night. Comforted and relaxed, you are able to reach deeper REM cycles.

The Journal of Sleep Medicine & Disorder concludes that the use of weighted blanket is "an innovative, non-pharmacological approach and complementary tool to improve sleep quality” (7).

You get the mind recovery you need to get up fully recharged everyday!

How Density Blanket Improves Your Sleep Duration?

With its gentle touch, Density weight minimizes body movement. You feel hugged and no longer toss and turn during the night making it easier to have a restful night.

Another study concludes that "touch is fundamental to our emotional well-being. Medical science is starting to understand and develop touch-based therapies for autism spectrum, mood, anxiety and borderline disorders" (9).

The Density team is consolidating its sleep expertive to bring you sleep and serenity with a science-based proven approach. We have developed a range of 3 weights and 4 colors to fit your body and needs and pay great attention to your questions and remarks.